| Maybe it's just me, but over the years I have | | | | who crashed because of drugs or self-abuse and |
| seen a slow change in the meaning of "hero" that | | | | go around telling people about it. I can respect or |
| I don't particularly like. | | | | admire these people but they are not my heroes. |
| To me, "hero' means a person with fortitude, | | | | Too many of us look for heroes in all the wrong |
| convictions, morals, and principles. A hero has | | | | places. Movie stars, musicians, athletes and models |
| courage, optimism, faith, and selflessness. He or | | | | aren't heroes; they're celebrities. I can't be like |
| she overcomes defeats, shows love for others, | | | | them, and in many cases, don't want to be - |
| determination and strength in the face of | | | | even with a major stretch of the imagination. |
| overwhelming odds. The person leaves an | | | | They are too far removed from my life and |
| impression and I want to be like him/her. | | | | reality in many cases. |
| As a kid and even today, my heroes were | | | | There seem to be very few heroes that can |
| generally people who made major impacts on me | | | | withstand the test of time. If they do, they are |
| as a person and kept me from straying into bad | | | | usually thrust into our midst once or twice each |
| territory. They "talked" to me and through their | | | | year whether we want them there or not - they |
| convictions and guidance I became a better | | | | are usually raising money. Our governments |
| person. At the very least, they made me aware | | | | desperately try to find high-profile people whom |
| that I needed to put brakes on when I was going | | | | the public might accept as great role models while |
| in the wrong direction. I could actually be like the | | | | ignoring the "little guy," true heroes among us |
| person. | | | | every day. |
| Nowadays, people have heroes I don't relate to | | | | How about urging our governments and media to |
| very well. There seems to be an unwritten rule | | | | put more ordinary people into the spotlight |
| that heroes have to be stars/celebrities and | | | | reserved for heroes? Why not the strong people |
| enormously wealthy/famous, or super athletes. | | | | in our daily lives - the teachers, scientists, |
| We shouldn't be surprised that owners of the | | | | environmental activists, police officers, crossing |
| media largely control who we see and are allowed | | | | guards, energetic elderly people? We might be |
| have as heroes. They have enormous power to | | | | able to actually identify with them. Don't they |
| influence us and dictate who is important and who | | | | deserve national recognition too? How about a |
| isn't. | | | | national firefighters day, crossing guard day, etc. |
| Being able to raise a lot of money for various | | | | Why not make every day a special day honoring |
| causes seems to be a major reason for them | | | | those "behind the scenes" people who should be |
| becoming heroes. Wow, that's admirable? | | | | and often are the real heroes in our lives. |
| The most popular "heroes" are usually | | | | We are desperate for heroes who are solid role |
| exceptionally good-looking and young e.g. Princess | | | | models for the young and old. There has to be a |
| Diana. By the way, did anybody pay attention to | | | | better way of picking them because ones we get |
| the death of Princess Margaret? | | | | presented to us are often just not real. |
| All too often, modern-day heroes are high flyers | | | | |